Marilyn Monroe's death likely accident

A forensic psychologist has sensationally claimed that a check signed by Marilyn Monroe the day before her death proves she was not planning to kill herself.

A forensic psychologist has sensationally claimed that a check signed by Marilyn Monroe the day before her death proves she was not planning to kill herself.

The actress had used the check, which is now being auctioned off, to purchase a white chest of drawers worth 228.80 dollars from Pilgrim's Furniture, an act Harvard-trained Dr S. David Bernstein believes is inconsistent with someone contemplating suicide.

Dr Bernstein said that while it was not uncommon for people about to take their own lives engage in shopping sprees, but the fact that all Monroe bought was the chest of drawers suggests she was planning to be around to use it.

"What my thoughts are is that this purchase wouldn't be consistent with planning to kill yourself," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

"A chest of drawers is a very personal item, and fairly low cost, and that is indicative that she was making plans for herself in the future," he said.

Dr Bernstein said that her behaviour didn't fit with someone who was suicidal.

"It's not like she was getting a high out of buying a lot of stuff or big ticket items, which is often what people who are feeling depressed do to elevate themselves," Dr Bernstein said.

"If I was doing a psycho autopsy and determining whether it was suicide or an accident, this particular piece of data - and of course I don't know what else she did that day - is not consistent with someone who was planning to not be around to enjoy what they were buying.

"It easily could have been an accident. It probably was," he said.

The historic check, dated August 4, 1962, is among a collection of 15 items that are being sold by Heritage Auctions to commemorate Monroe, 50 years after her untimely death.